Carbon Close and Audit Readiness

Monthly governance for carbon data: ingestion → QA → anomalies → exceptions → sign-off → publish (so reporting stops being a scramble).

CollectionCore

Why Carbon Close Matters

Most carbon programs fail the same way:

  • Data arrives late and inconsistently
  • Nobody runs QA until the end of the year
  • Anomalies are discovered during reporting (panic)
  • Changes happen without documentation (trust collapses)
  • "Audit readiness" becomes a fire drill

Carbon Close is the operating cadence that prevents all of that by treating carbon like finance: predictable monthly cycles, versioning and sign-off, evidence discipline, and exceptions that actually close.

What This Collection Covers (Plain English)

You will learn how to:

Monthly Carbon Close

Run a monthly carbon close (even if you start with Scope 2 only).

QA and Anomaly Detection

Implement minimum QA and anomaly detection rules.

Exceptions Management

Manage exceptions with owners and due dates.

Change Log and Versioning

Maintain a change log (no silent restatements).

KPI Scoreboard

Publish a KPI scoreboard leaders can act on.

Assurance Readiness

Prepare for review/assurance without reinventing your system.

Start Here (Best Order)

If you are new, do this in order:

  1. 1Set the cadence + roles (owner, reviewer, data stewards)
  2. 2Close one dataset first (Scope 2 utilities is best)
  3. 3Standardize QA + anomaly detection (make it a gate, not optional)
  4. 4Build an exceptions log (fix/accept/proxy/defer with owners)
  5. 5Lock versions + change log (no silent overwrites)
  6. 6Publish a KPI dashboard spec (actionable scoreboard)
  7. 7Add assurance-ready evidence packaging (only when needed)

If You Only Do One Thing

Create a Carbon Close Tracker and run it monthly for Scope 2.

That alone will stabilize your program and make every other dataset easier later. Start with the Carbon Data Governance + Audit Readiness Pack.

Bundles Included

Carbon Close Bundle

The step-by-step monthly operating system for carbon data credibility and repeatability.

1 week for first close, then monthly cadence

All Carbon Close and Audit Readiness Resources

1

Carbon Data Governance + Audit Readiness Pack

Make your carbon data defensible: definitions, evidence rules, QA, change logs, and monthly close.

Guide
60 min
2

Scope 3 Assurance Prep Kit

Prepare for review/assurance with evidence, controls, sampling discipline, and honest limitations (not audit advice).

Guide
60 min

Tools and Calculators (Ungated)

These support Carbon Close outputs across datasets:

Scope 2 Emissions Calculator

Calculate Scope 2 emissions for carbon close outputs.

Renewable Matching Coverage Calculator

Track renewable matching coverage if making claims.

Supplier Engagement Coverage Tracker

Track supplier program progress for Scope 3.

Refrigerant Leak CO2e Estimator

Estimate Scope 1 refrigerant emissions.

Templates You Can Copy (High-Use)

These templates exist inside the resources above; pull them into your Template Vault:

  • Carbon Close Tracker (period → ingestion → QA → sign-off)
  • Exceptions Log (issue → decision → owner → due date)
  • Sign-off Sheet (prepared/reviewed/approved + links)
  • Change Log (no silent restatements)
  • Monthly Close Agenda (30 minutes)

Common Mistakes (Avoid These)

  • Waiting until year-end to run QA (creates restatements and panic)
  • No owner per exception (issues never close)
  • Evidence stored in email threads (breaks traceability)
  • Publishing dashboards without QA gates (creates noise and distrust)
  • Changing methods/factors without documenting (invites scrutiny)

What to Do Next

Pick the next collection based on your next goal:

Scope 2 Electricity (Made Simple)

If you need credible Scope 2 reporting and claims.

Leased Assets Collection

If leased assets dominate and you need tenant data + allocation.

Supplier Engagement Collection

If you are scaling supplier data quality.

Scope 3 for Beginners

If you need to prioritize and start Scope 3.

Back to Decision Kits

Change log

v1.0 (2026-01): Latest release